Overall the BMW 3 Series is an excellent car. The turbocharged four-cylinder makes the 328i quick yet frugal, achieving 28 mpg overall. A smooth and punchy 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder powers the 335i. Ride comfort, noise isolation, and fit and finish are impressive, but the rear seat is snug. Handling is very capable, but steering feel is less tactile than before. Our main qualms are about the rough engine idle and the new stop/start system that is too abrupt when restarting the engine. The coupe, convertible, and M3 continue on the old platform. A hybrid sedan based on the six-cylinder turbo, and a 320i sedan based on the four-cylinder turbo are new for 2013. A new wagon arrives in spring. First year reliability of the 328i sedan has been much above average.
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BMW Blog Content
BMW integrates books to go, with bookmarks and Kindle synching
It's amazing what you can find out from an auto show. This year, in the course of covering the New York International Auto Show, we came across some exciting electronics news: Readers no longer need commit to a book format...
New York Auto Show: BMW adds Internet radio to new and recent cars
The New York auto show isn't just about cars. As proof, BMW announced a new suite of apps that will be compatible with iDrive, bringing Internet radio to new and recent models. Using an iPhone 3GS through iPhone 5 (with...
New York Auto Show: Models go on major weight-loss diet
No, not those models that frequent a runway. Instead, two of the big introductions here at this year's New York auto show are trumpeting major weight reductions. To be fair, it did require major surgery in both cases. Over the...
Love it or hate it, the 2013 BMW X1 proves polarizing
Listen to hallway and office chatter at Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center and you'll find widely divergent opinions about the BMW X1. They mostly fall into two camps, and it all boils down to the car's value. Camp #1 views...
Consumer Reports names the best and worst cars by brand
While car brand reputation can be a strong influence on purchase decisions, such perceptions can be misleading. The reality is, every brand offers models that perform across a spectrum, with some are clearly better than others. As we see in...
